Ok, ran a test today charging the group 24 Interstate. After the equalization charge I did yesterday, it was at 12.6V and 1.260-1.265 in each cell. Maybe not 100%, but better than this battery has seen since I started all this.
So, I applied a known load to pull about 25Ah out of the battery. Let it rest for about 30 minutes and got about 12.3V. Set the Boondocker to 14.8V unloaded and hooked it up. Took readings every 15 minutes. Voltage at the terminals, wattage from the Kill a watt.
0:00 13.55V 800W
0:15 13.50V 208W
0:30 13.58V 135W
0:45 13.64V 95W
1:00 13.67V 67W
1:15 13.69V 50W
1:30 13.70V 35W
1:45 13.71V 31W
2:00 13.72V 25W
At this point, had to be in abs but it looked like I'd never get to 14.8 at this rate. So I bumped it up to 14.8V (loaded) and the watts went up to 33. Over the next 15 minutes the voltage held steady at 14.8 and the watts dropped to 20. Over the next hour those reading held steady, 14.8V and 20W.
Obviously need an ammeter, that's the only way I'll really know what is going on. Also the DROK will give me far more control.
Overall, I'm going to say I'm enjoying being involved and learning about charging. I really am starting to understand how this is an art to some degree. Sure, much easier just hooking it up to an automatic and waiting for the soothing green light. But easier doesn't = better.
